Ashura in Afghanistan ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Ashura in Afghanistan and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
The Day of Ashura is a public holiday in Afghanistan. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Hussein was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Afghanistan is a majority Sunni Muslim country, but there is a significant Shia minority. Ashura is observed by both Sunni and Shia Muslims. In Kabul, the capital, Ashura is marked with processions and special prayers. Shia Muslims also self-flagellate and engage in other forms of self-mortification on Ashura.
In recent years, Ashura has been marred by violence. In 2016, a suicide bomber killed over 80 people at an Ashura procession in Kabul. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.